DCU-Final-Year-Projects-Booklet-2025

64 96. Development of a Simulation Based Statistical Analysis Framework for Predicting Energy Consumption in Buildings This project focuses on estimating the energy consumption of a residential building using statistical analysis tools to assess and enhance the building’s energy efficiency. The technical aspect of the project involves designing a reliable prediction tool based on data collected froma buildingmodel. The residential building model was constructed usingDesignBuilder, with adjustments made to the building’s parameters to improve the results as simulations were conducted. Findings from the simulations informed the statistical analysis model, allowing for easier interpretation of the results and enabling the optimisation of energy efficiency. Student Programme Mechanical andManufacturing Engineering (Year 5) Project Area 3-DModelling, Simulation, Statistical Analysis Project Technology Excel/VB, DesignBuilder Student Name(s) Eve Devey Email eve.devey2@mail.dcu.ie Supervisor Dr Reihaneh Aghamolaei 97. An Investigation into the Advancements of Liquid Cooling and its Potential to Replace Traditional Air Cooling for Data Centre IT Equipment This project investigates the efficiency of air and liquid cooling systems in hyperscale data centres using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). By focusing on direct-to-chip liquid cooling and traditional air coolingmethods, this project evaluates the energy consumption and sustainability of each method of cooling. The research addresses the growing demand for efficient cooling solutions as data centres expand to accommodate artificial intelligence and high-performance computing. Key performance indicators, including energy usage, environmental impact, and operational feasibility, are analysed. Results indicate that liquid cooling significantly reduces energy consumption and supports future scalability, making it a preferred choice for managing rising heat densities. Student Programme Mechanical and Sustainability Engineering (Year 5) Project Area 3-DModelling, Artificial Intelligence, Cloud Computing, Energy Conservation, FluidMechanics, Internet of Things, Mechanical Design andManufacture, Simulation, Thermodynamics Project Technology ANSYSWorkbench, Excel/VB, Solidworks Student Name(s) LiamO’Connor Email liam.oconnor62@mail.dcu.ie Supervisor Dr James Carton 98. Analysis of Microplastic Removal via Bubbly Flow This project aims to harness the dynamics of bubbly flow in amodified co-current air-loop reactor to capture and remove microplastics fromwater. Conventional microplastic removal methods are often limited in efficiency and scalability, particularly for particles smaller than 100microns. Key system modifications include an imaging setup with a vertically adjustable camera and a design to counteract light refraction, ensuring accurate characterisation of bubble and particle sizes. Captured images are processed using algorithms that analyse bubble size, shape, velocity, and distribution to determine the optimal conditions for microplastic capture. The final system integrates reactor design with optimised image processing, advancing sustainable solutions for microplastic removal. Student Programme Mechanical andManufacturing Engineering (Year 5) Project Area 3-DModelling, Computer Vision, Data Analytics, Image/Video Processing, Software Development, Water Treatment Project Technology Excel/VB, Python, Solidworks Student Name(s) Béibhín Flatley Email beibhin.flatley2@mail.dcu.ie Supervisor Dr Yan Delauré